U. S. Open Tennis Blog

Every year millions tune in around the world to watch tennis’s greatest athletes compete for the title at the US Open. It is no wonder the US Open has become one of the premier sporting events to attend, with New York City just ten miles away as its inviting backdrop. But tennis lovers need not think they have to hop on the Long Island Expressway to get a taste of New York city life. The borough of Queens, home to Corona, NY and the US Open, has the same big city offerings at a more suburban price!

If it is an eclectic selection of ethnic food you’re after, Queens will not disappoint. Queens just so happens to be the most diverse county in the United States; and thanks to that fact you can find delicious, authentic dishes on every corner. Try Il Toscana- its Northern Italian fare that will make you feel like you went all the way to Little Italy. It’s easier on the wallet, yet not on portions. If it’s a thick juicy steak or a romantic evening you are craving, Uncle Jack’s Steakhouse is a favorite of both visitors and locals. They’re open for both lunch and dinner. If Thai food is more your flavor, try Sripraphai. The only thing missing on this menu is the Manhattan price tag! And of course, if things don’t go in favor of your favorite player on the courts, head over to Donovan’s Irish pub to drown your sorrows in a pint of Guinness; or just indulge in some Irish favorites like Sheppard’s Pie or their renowned fish & chips with homemade tartar sauce!

Manhattan isn’t the only place to get your fill of art and culture in New York. Make time to visit the Queens Museum of Art. New York is notably hot and humid in late August and early September. Skip the early match and head into the air-conditioned comfort of this lovely gem. The building was originally constructed in 1939 for the World’s Fair, and also held the UN’s General Assembly in the late 1940’s. Today it serves as one of New York major art museums. QMA’s most famous piece is the Panorama of New York. It’s a model, built to scale, of New York’s five boroughs that was created for the World’s Fair in the 1960’s. The museum is also known for its many international exhibits that represent the multi-cultural background of Queens itself.

If you can brave the heat, or get lucky enough to have a breezy day in Queens, try the Queens Zoo. The zoo is open everyday, from 10am to 5pm (5:30pm on weekends and holidays). It’s just $7 for adults, $3 for kids and $4 for seniors. Kids under 3 get in free! What better way to spend a day in Queens than hanging out with Winton the swan or Holiday the donkey? Located in the heart of the borough on a sprawling 5 acres, the Queens Zoo was also constructed for the famous World’s Fair in 1964. However, the zoo underwent a 4 year, 16 million dollar overhaul from 1988 to 1992. Today the zoo is complete with an array of American animals, a modern aviary and even a petting zoo. It is definitely not to be missed while in Queens!

So book your flight to LaGuardia Airport for the two-week tennis tournament from August 31 to September 13, but forget the rental car or even the train ticket! Queens has everything you need to truly experience New York life. This year, if you’re a baseball fan, you can also catch a Mets game in Queens. They will be playing at home on Citi Field September 4- 6 and September 8- 10. Cool off after the game with a stop at the infamous Lemon Ice King stand, just around the corner. Follow these tips and your trip to the Open will be so much more than a tennis tournament! It will be vacation you remember for years to come. For more visit:  http://usopentickets.org

The 2010 U.S. Open Tennis Championships runs from August through September 2010, and will be held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, N.Y.
This year, the Open offers an impressive 21.6 Million dollar purse, making this the third year in a row where the tournament’s prize money has increased by $1 million dollars. There is also the possibility of an additional 2.6 million dollars for the top three men’s and the top three women’s finishers in the Olympus US Open Series. This is the largest purse offering in the history of the U.S. Tennis Open Championships.
The extra perks that come along with the 5.8% bump in last year’s record purse, are the 2010 Lexus IS Convertible offered to both U.S. Open Singles champions, and the knowledge that the prizes are equal between the men and women contestants. All players receive per diem payments to help with the cost of participation in the event.
The favored top ten entry list for the men includes:
• Rodger Federer of Switzerland
• Rafael Nadal of Spain
• Andy Murray of Great Britain
• Novak Djokovic of Serbia
• Andy Roddick of Austin, TX
• Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina
• Gilles Simon of France
• Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France
• Fernando Verdasco of Spain
• Fernando Gonzalez of Chile
Eight of the male entrants have won Grand Slam singles during their careers
The favored top ten entry list for the women includes:
• Dinara Safina of Russia
• Serena Williams of Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Venus Williams of Palm Beach Gardens, FL
• Elena Dementieva of Russia
• Kuznetsova of Russia
• Jelena Jankovic of Serbia
• Vera Zvonareva of Russia
• Victoria Azarenka of Belarus
• Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark
• Nadia Petrova of Russia
Of these two line-ups, Rodger Federer of the men’s roster, and Serena Williams of the women’s roster, are favored to win first place based on previous wins and performance.
Rodger Federer has previously won five consecutive U.S. Open singles titles last year, and made Grand Slam history this year in Wimbledon. He also broke Pete Sampras previous record for most Grand Slam Singles titles with a total of 15. He currently leads the men’s singles which puts him foremost on most speculators’ lists for taking home the big purse.
For the women, Serena Williams is the favorite. She is the defending U.S. Open Champion with previous wins in both 1999 and 2002.
The best tickets for this event at the best prices can be found right here, at http://usopentickets.org

Expect screaming, happy kids and then a heartstring-tug during the US Open this year at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, NY.

The US Open events kick off on Saturday, August 29, with the Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where delighted kids and their families will enjoy a day filled with music sensations, celebrities and tennis-tour favorites. This year’s lineup includes actor-comedian Will Ferrell, platinum-selling recording artist and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, boy band Honor Society and newcomer Justin Bieber, as well as tennis giants Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

Families are invited to participate in this pre-tournament festival that provides tennis know-how and fun with tennis clinics, games, food and musical entertainment. The Kids’ Day event will be hosted by MTV’s Susie Castillo and by Nickelodeon’s Quddus. Profits from this high-energy event benefit the National Junior Tennis and Learning (NJTL) network, which focuses on strengthening youth character with its 550 national chapters that reach out to 220,000 children annually.

The US Open’s Opening Night Ceremony on August 31 continues the good will and altruistic theme of using tennis to benefit kids with a sentimental tribute to retired eight-time Grand Slam singles champion and tennis legend, Andre Agassi. The tribute honors Agassi’s charitable contributions and humanitarianism through the Andre Agassi Foundation, founded in 1994, to provide opportunities to underprivileged youth.

The Andre Agassi Foundation’s primary success vehicle is its Las Vegas-based public K-12 charter school, named the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy, or Agassi Prep. The school was founded in 2001 with only grades 3-5 and has grown to its current K-12 status. Its mission is to provide low-income youth with educational and recreational opportunities through state-charter funding and donor contributions. This award-winning school has become a fundraising powerhouse and just graduated its first senior class of 34 students in June and all are proudly college-bound this fall.

As further special coverage honoring Agassi, ESPN2 will be broadcasting its first live primetime telecast from the US Open during the Opening Ceremony. Agassi retired from the tennis world in 2006 and continues to foster a love of tennis, competition, education and service to others through his Foundation.

To learn more about how the NJTL and the Andre Agassi Foundation reach out to disadvantaged children with structured plans to help them succeed, visit usta.com and agassifoundation.org.

And to get the best tickets to the Open at the best prices, visit us at www.usopentickets.org

Watching the 2009 US Open in person will be like watching a techno-thriller directed by Hollywood’s best, mixing age-old tradition with ultra-modern technology. It also will be like watching a tearjerker drama.

Debuting this year, an exciting feature called Point Tracker promises to take the game of tennis to the next level. Every nuance of the tennis ball’s trajectory will be captured and broadcast online. The entire match can be animated allowing close analysis.

After watching a particularly exciting match, a fan could go to the US Open website and use the Point Tracker feature to visualize the exact path that a ball took. Andy Roddick or Roger Federer, two favorites to win the Open, would use the same tool to identify the Achilles’ heels of their opponents.

Fans are content, however, just to watch the talent and hard work that have culminated in this high-stakes tournament.

As the drama unfolds on the court, each player has his or her own life story. Federer’s life story is particularly compelling.

Federer, the Tiger Woods of tennis, is the favorite to win it all. Federer, hailing from Switzerland, in his youth was known as a hothead. He often hurled his racket at the net, frustrated not with the game, opponent, coach, but rather with himself. The outbursts threatened to stop his advancement to the professionals.

Peter Carter, one of Australia’s finest players, took Federer on as his protégé. Carter and Federer not only explored the art and science of tennis, but also discussed the psychology and sportsmanship of tennis. Carter became Federer’s surrogate parent in many ways, allowing Federer to grow into the player he is today.

Like Tiger Woods, Federer’s career was defined by a tragedy: the death of Carter. At Federer’s suggestion, the coach had gone on a safari to South Africa. In a truck accident, Carter was killed.

It was not particularly the death of Carter but rather a meeting with Carter’s parents. They shared with Federer that rooting for Federer allowed them to root vicariously for Carter. This brought focus on Federer’s game, as he was filled with a desire to honor his mentor.

Thus, Federer became the number one player of tennis according to most analysts. His life story is just one of many.

The 2009 US Open, especially in person, will be an epic tale, with drama such as Roger Federer’s tale and with technological marvels such as the new-fangled Point Tracker features. Buying tickets to the Open isn’t just getting a seat to watch some people lob back and forth a yellow ball. It is buying a seat to one of the premier dramas of the year. And the best seats at the best prices are available at www.usopentickets.org